Two criminals shot in ‘full media glare’
AGRA:Under full media glare, the Uttar Pradesh police shot dead two men, accused of murder and robbery, in an encounter in Aligarh early Thursday morning. However, police officials denied that permission was granted to media persons to cover the encounter
The criminals Naushad and Mustaqim, carrying a cash reward of₹ 25,000 each on their heads, were wanted for at least six murders in the district last month, police said. Among the victims were two Hindu priests and four farmers.
Senior superintendent of police (SSP), Aligarh, Ajay Kumar Sahni said the encounter took place at about 6.30 am on Thursday when Vinod Kumar, in charge, Harduaganj police station in Aligarh , was on routine inspection at the ashram of a saint.
“He saw two men on a motorcycle and asked them to stop but they did not. It was revealed that the motor cycle was stolen last night and so they were chased,” he added.
“The encounter took place at Machua canal in Harduaganj area of Aligarh district at 6:30 am when the police team was fired at. In charge of Pali Mukeempur police station Pradeep Kumar was injured in the gunfight,” said superintendent of police (rural), Aligarh, Manilal Patidar.
“These two criminals were changing their locations after committing crimes in Atrauli, Harduaganj and Pali Mukeempur and were involved in many murders. They had robbed a man of his motorbike in Quarsi area in Aligarh last night. Country made pistols and cartridges were also recovered from their possession,” Patidar said.
While the encounter was on, local media persons reached the spot and made videos of the gunfight. Denying reports that permission was granted to media persons for the coverage of the encounter, Patidar said: “The encounter continued for oneand-a-half hours. When they came to know about the encounter, media persons reached the spot and made videos from a distance.”
Police sent the bodies of the two men for post mortem to Aligarh district hospital and informed the district magistrate.